Brilliant report from Nick . I also agree with a lot that Rich W said. For me
it was a case of alls well that ends well. For the first 20mins or so we were
being passed off the park and we really struggled to get in the game, but from
the first goal onwards it was all very easy. A lad in front of me said pre
match that Becks always follows up a poor performance away with a good one at
home, well after 20mins I was giving him grief for that statement because
Beckford was awful (and I am a big fan of his) in an awful display - he lost
the ball every time it came near him, then he nipped in a poked one home, a
good opportunist goal and then really came into his own, a lovely move ended
with him finishing well and a it was a genuine disallowed goal in so much as
no-one knew it was offside till after it hit the net. His other goals were
quality - both put on a plate for him with lovely through balls from Kilkenny
and then Howson - Becks finished both with
style , a right foot curled past the keeper and a lovely chip with his left
foot. He should have scored another 2, one when he went too wide and one when
he dallied a bit and was dispossessed by the tackle of the season.
The other goal came from Kilkenny - an absolute beauty hit from a long way out.
I know I said after Tranmere away I never wanted to see him play for us again
but since he has been recalled under Grayson he has been one of, if not the,
best player in the team. He generally finds his man (ooer missus) and unlike
all the 5 yards sideways \ backwards balls under Macca he has now started
again to look for and find the killer pass - long may it continue.
As for Becchio - I am the one who had the disagreement with Rich over how many
he would score* but despite the fact that I am likely to be proved right my
view of him as a player is getting closer to Richs every match. Apart from his
penalty miss (and how unseemly was the argument between him and Snoddy) his
first touch, again, was woeful. On one occasion he was put through one on one
with the keeper but unfortunately the ref blew for offside before he was given
the chance to take the ball on - but no-one round me thought he would have
scored it !
Once they went a goal down they were very poor , bringing on a big lad at
centre half at the start of the second half and then subbing him after 15 mins
or so. They also nearly had 12 men on the pitch at one point when the 'injured'
player who was subbed came back on the pitch from one side as the sub came on
from the other (not sure why he was not booked for coming back on without
permission)
Other things of note - Snoddy a great second half - this lad has been a real
find.
Grella - looks to have something about him, I wanted him to score, and did one
lovely back heel , the only drawback is those hugely irritating USA chants that
follow any good work by him
Agree 100% with Nick re Beckford and Becchio - the former a class star player
being barracked by sections of the crowd the latter a donkey being a crowd
favourite - I just cannot understand it at all.
As for the atmosphere that was killed when the stewards got all the front of
the Kop sat down within minutes and started on the upper tier.
18,800+ on one level a good gate but given that we had won 5 on the bounce at
home and that was a Cat C game is pretty poor.
Still that is 6 home wins now- welcome to fortress Elland Road ! Will be a big
advantage in the play offs maybe (Preston and Carlisle were both won away from
home)
One final point - I was talking to a mate the other day whose friend was the
lino v Scunthorpe who sent Howson off (told my mate the ref had missed it) - he
was telling my mate how vile it is at ER and that it is the most intimidating
ground he has been to ! He has done a lot of Championship and a few Premiership
matches. He also said he got (and was thankful for) the security going on and
off the pitch and that he was given a police escort onto the motorway after the
game !
Dave
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Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
